The untold truth behind Hazara-Kuchi conflict

Why are Kuchi herders unwelcomed in Behsud, Bamyan and other areas in the Central Highlands where Hazaras make the majority of settlers?

The Kuchis flock to almost all other parts of the country where they are not treated as “invaders” or “Pashtun terrorists”.

Over the past five years seasonal pasture-related tensions in Behsoud have often erupted into dangerous ethnic conflicts as both Kuchis and Hazaras blame each other for repression and wrongdoing.

Hazars say Kuchis storm into their agriculture fields, inflict damages and disappear.

Kuchis say their traditional right to “public” grazing lands has been denied by Hazaras and in some instances local Hazara strongmen have grabbed their legitimate properties.

This is only a fake face of the problem.

As you go deep into the issue, listen to kingpins and use some intelligence the underlying truth goes into two directions: A) corruption, and B) ethno-politics.

A) Blessed with free and flooding dollars the Karzai regime earmarked over 160 million Afghanis (about US$31 million) to compensate warring parties (affected Kuchis and Hazaras) in 2009. Most of the money ended up in the criminal coffers of prominent ethnic power-brokers and government officials. However, the regime has failed to buy peace and accord with corrupto-dollars and the profiteers have re-orchestrated another violent drama again.

B) Tehran has brainwashed many Hazara leaders and activists with the idea of “an independent Hazaristan” – another Shia state in the region. Maps showing the Central Highlands, Daikundi and parts of Urozgan as a sovereign Shia/Hazara state have been produced to inspire the powerful Hazara leaders. Purging the region from non-Hazaras is a prerequisite for the ideal Hazara country. The U.S. foreign policy, undoubtedly, is pro-minority and Hazaras strongly believe they are following the path of Iraqi Kurds.

How a landlocked Hazaristan will live in a landlocked Afghanistan is a question Hazara protagonists need to ponder about.